Disability Equality Index

The Disability Equality Index (DEI) is a joint initiative of the US Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and AAPD. Developed by the DEI Advisory Committee, a diverse group of business leaders, policy experts, and disability advocates, the DEI is a national, transparent benchmarking tool that offers businesses an opportunity to receive an objective score, on a scale of zero to 100, on their disability inclusion policies and practices. It is an aspirational, educational, recognition tool that is intended to help companies identify opportunities for continued improvement and help build a company’s reputation as an employer of choice.

US Business Leadership Network (USBLN) and American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) are proud to release the 2017 Disability Equality Index (DEI) – the third year measured by the Index. 110 companies participated in the 2017 DEI, with results indicating where companies are excelling in their commitment to inclusive environmental, social, and governance policies. DEI results also indicate areas in which companies must improve and close the policy and practice gaps for disability inclusion. This year a record 68 employers have earned the top rating of 100 – signaling to corporate America that becoming inclusive to people with disabilities drives positive results across the business.

A few quick facts from the 2017 DEI:

Of the 110 companies scored in 2017, a record 68 employers earned 100 ratings – the highest score possible. This is a substantial increase from 2015 when 19 companies (out of 80) received 100 ratings and in 2016 when 42 companies (of 83 participating) earned the top mark possible. Additionally, the 2017 DEI saw an increase in the median score, with the average rating achieving a resounding 90, an increase of 10 points from 2015.

The companies represented today in the 2017 DEI represent widely diverse business sectors, are significantly varying sizes, and have workforces across the world. These Fortune 1000-scope companies are from 21 different sectors of the economy, and 69 of the reporting companies are ranked in the 2017 Fortune 500.

Remarkably, the corporations taking part in the 2017 DEI have a total U.S. workforce of roughly 7.2 million workers – or ~5% of all of American workers. In addition to the large number of employees, the publicly held corporations in the 2017 DEI today total ~$6 trillion in market value—showing their significant influence on the American and global economies.

The industries with the most corporations participating in the 2017 DEI are: Financial Services (15% of reporting companies); Technology (10% of reporting companies); and Healthcare and Insurance (both accounting for 9%, or a total of 18%, of companies reporting).